For anyone undergoing surgery, it is extremely important to maintain the utmost health and follow all of your doctor’s instructions. To reduce the risks of gastric bypass surgery, doctors often ask patients to go on diets and lose weight as part of pre-operating procedures.

More and more doctors are now seeing the benefits of FDA-approved diet drugs like Phentermine, and are even prescribing it to patients as part of their pre-operating directions in order to help minimize risks during surgery.

Losing weight pre-op is often a catch-22 for patients who have already had difficulty losing weight through traditional methods. Their doctors are looking for them to improve their diets, exercise and lose weight before the procedure, yet their lack of results with these traditional methods is the very reason they are opting to have surgery in the first place. This is when so many doctors are finally incorporating the proven weight loss pill, Phentermine, into their prescription plans.

However, for some conservative doctors, it is the stigma of weight-loss pills that is difficult for them to overcome, and not the safety or efficiency which have been proven over and over. An article in the New Yorker, equated other doctor’s hesitancy with prescribing weight loss pills that proven to be effective with their former position on mental health treatments: that someone patients did not require medical treatment.

The doctor who authored the article, Dr. Suzanne Koven, lamented this mindset back in 2013 and hoped that one day she would be able to better treat patients looking to lose weight. Hopefully, that day has come.

Why it is Important to Diet Before Gastric Bypass Surgery

You’re probably wondering why doctors tell patients to lose weight before a gastric bypass when the entire point of the surgery is mainly to lose weight. No, your doctor is not testing your weight-loss abilities. It all comes down to ensuring your safety.

If you aren’t scheduled for a gastric bypass and are wondering what exactly this surgery is, here’s a quick overview: Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure to aid in permanent weight loss by dividing the stomach into two sections to reduce its size to less than 90 percent of what it previously was.

It is a risky procedure that is only used in cases of obesity, as a last resort when no other options have worked. It is an extremely effective weight loss option for many patients who see dramatic results and increase their life-spans in the long-term.

The reason doctors are so adamant about their diet instructions before the procedure is that the surgery has been proven to be much more successful for patients who have managed to lose some weight prior to the operation.

Often doctors prescribe a liquid diet to help empty out the stomach and prevent any disorders. It is recommended that those in pre-op abstain from eating for 48 hours prior to their surgery. This helps prevent any leftover food particles from increasing the chance of leakage that can occur during the stapling part of the procedure.

If the liver is enlarged during surgery, it could prevent the surgeons from continuing with the procedure until more weight is lost. The surgeon needs to be able to access the breastbone to perform the procedure laparoscopically, which results in the greatest success with an easier recovery period.

How Phentermine Can Help with Pre-Op Procedures

For those who suffer from stress eating, the looming days before surgery can be a trigger. Prescription diet medication can significantly improve weight loss when patient experience slowing results from more traditionally recommended methods. These weight-loss medicines work by increasing the basal metabolic rate and decreases a patient’s appetite.

The appetite suppressing properties of Phentermine are psycho-stimulants that are powerful in overcoming stress eating habits. This medication can help you reduce hunger cravings such as this, which is important in limiting your diet prior to your gastric bypass operation.

When left without a prescription to Phentermine, many often falter to these stress-eating habits and find it very difficult to stick to the suggested liquid diet regime. Phentermine releases hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine that release adrenaline that produces energy and help break down fat cells.

A prescription of Phentermine combined with dietary recommendations and exercise that doctors routinely suggest as a part of pre-op procedures for a gastric bypass can be a powerful tool in preventing weight gain. This can also benefit your recovery time, as the physiological impact of Phentermine can counteract depression that is often associated with surgeries. Depression is particularly common in elective surgeries like gastric bypass.

Why Phentermine is the Preferred Prescribed Medicine

Phentermine is the preferred appetite suppressant that is prescribed by doctors for bariatric surgery like gastric bypasses. This is because it is one of the most effective weight-loss medications on the market, with the least amount of side effects. It is also FDA approved to be used for 12 weeks, which makes it a prime candidate for pre-op prescriptions.

The normal dosage ranges from 15 to 37.5 mg for a day and has been proven to boost metabolism and reduce hunger. It also has been proven to have no long-term side effects. In a study that measured patients who abruptly ended use of Phentermine, no patients exhibited any withdrawals or addictions to the drug.

In addition to its many benefits for pre-operating processes, Phentermine also helps boost energy level post-surgery to combat potential lingering side effects from the anesthesia or the procedure in general. It has been shown to be effective at managing long-term weight loss, especially for those struggling to lose weight through traditional methods.

For those with a history of failing to lose weight, this is the best weight loss pill on the market. It helps patients keep weight off, struggle less with post-operating recovery, and prevents uncontrollable hunger cravings. Phentermine continues to be a safe option for patients undergoing surgery, as well as those looking to supplement their weight-loss efforts.